Types of Sexual Assault

Stranger Rape

Stranger rape was once believed to be the most common form of
rape.

This is the stereotypical man jumps out from behind the bushes
situation. Obviously this isn't always how stranger rapes occur.
There is no specific outline of what a stranger rape looks like.
Even though a person can avoid certain situations and take classes
in self-defense, there is nothing that can be done to prevent
things like this from happening.

Acquaintance and Date Rape

Acquaintance rape is a broad term used to describe sexual
assaults in which the victim knows the perpetrator. The perpetrator
might be a partner or husband, an ex-partner, coworker, neighbor,
doctor, religious leader, or a family friend. The perpetrator might
be just a passing acquaintance or someone the victim knows well.
Date rape is a specific type of acquaintance rape, referring to a
perpetrator that assaults the victim while on a date with the
victim. Acquaintance rape is the most common form of sexual
assault.

Marital Rape

In the state of Illinois marital rape is against the law.
Marital rape is a sexual assault in the confines of marriage or
with long-term partners. Rape is one crime in the continuum of
domestic violence. Men who are physically violent toward their
partners are also likely to be sexually violent toward their
partners and to use violence toward children. Many women experience
rape when they are in the process of leaving a violent
relationship. This is frequently attributed to the fact that the
batterer/rapist is experiencing a loss of control over his partner
and wants to "punish" her or reassert his power.

Substance-Related Rape

Substance-related rape is a sexual assault where the victim is
under the influence of alcohol or other drugs including drugs
commonly known as "date rape drugs" such as Rohypnol or GHB. These
drugs are used to perpetrate sexual assault, though most often
substance-related sexual assault involves alcohol or other
recreational drugs. Often both parties are voluntarily using
substances.

Multiple Assailant or Gang Rape

Gang rape is when the same victim is raped by a number of
perpetrators as part of the same incident. Group sexual assault is
most prevalent within the fraternity system and in intercollegiate
athletics, but it also extends into other all-male groupings. Group
rape is a way for men to ritually act out their contempt for women
and to prove their dominance and superiority over women.
Participation in a group sexual assault is motivated by a
relationship among men, by the need to maintain and create order
and status within the group, and by their relationship to
women.